Jessica Day-Parker

More than 1,000 properties in Colchester lost electricity after a fault in underground electrical equipment. The outage initially affected 1,371 properties in the CO1 2, CO2 8 and CO4 3 postcode areas, with 1,091 still without power after UK Power Networks diverted electricity to some customers. Specialist engineers and on-site teams were working to restore service, with power expected to return between 7pm and 8pm, subject to the findings of the repairs.

Mint Properties has submitted plans to Colchester Council to convert the first and second floors of 16 High Street into five self-contained apartments while retaining commercial use on the ground floor. The currently vacant upper floors and former Greggs unit would be refurbished with new refuse storage, secure cycle parking and a separate residential entrance from Culver Street West. The plans do not propose changes to the building’s height or external appearance, and the council will decide whether the development proceeds.

TikTok duo Town Tickers visited Colchester as part of a project reviewing every English town and city, awarding it 4.5 out of 7. They praised the city's Roman, Norman, Tudor, Victorian and Saxon architecture, historic landmarks, pubs, schools, shops, cafés, zoo and University of Essex campus. The reviewers also criticized empty retail units and poorly justified new developments, and said they preferred Chelmsford, but concluded that Colchester offered enough attractions to merit more than a score of four.

An emergency incident at Harlow Town railway station blocked the London-bound platform, disrupting Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street, Stansted Airport, Cambridge North and Bishop’s Stortford. Trains are being routed through another platform, with delays and timetable revisions expected until further notice. Passengers affected by cancellations may use earlier or later services, and those delayed by at least 15 minutes may qualify for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.

A 10-year-old boy reported missing from the Colchester area on August 3 was safely located. Essex Police thanked the public for supporting and sharing its appeal.

Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of Jason Bethell, wanted on recall to prison and believed to be in the Colchester area. Hertfordshire Police urge the public to report sightings through official channels or anonymously via Crimestoppers, advising immediate reports through emergency services if necessary.

A 25‑year‑old woman from North Benfleet underwent what may be one of the UK’s first Indiana pouch bladder‑replacement surgeries after severe, irreversible damage caused by heavy ketamine addiction. Following years of pain, repeated hospitalisations and unsuccessful treatments, surgeons removed her bladder and created an internal reservoir emptied through her belly button. The procedure, funded privately but followed by NHS aftercare, is expected to restore quality of life. She reports relief from the chronic pain and shares her recovery to raise awareness of ketamine‑related bladder damage and the challenges addicts face in being properly diagnosed.

A field in Woodham Walter was destroyed after a fire involving stubble and farm machinery prompted a response from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, with crews from three stations containing the blaze within about two hours. Firefighters worked with a local farmer to create fire breaks, and the cause is believed to be linked to farm machinery. The farmer’s use of the what3words app to relay the precise location was commended, and the service encouraged wider public use of the tool for emergencies.

Hatfields in Colchester has launched a major clearance sale offering up to 75 percent discounts as its budget store prepares to close permanently and its main showroom undergoes temporary refurbishment. Managing director Robert London attributes the decision to economic pressures and limited government support for independent businesses. The sale covers £2.75 million in stock across both stores, featuring discounted furniture and mattresses from several major brands ahead of the budget store’s closure by the end of September.

Five Colchester-area kebab takeaways are highlighted for top ratings on Just Eat, with Oh My Cod, Dilan Kebab House, Rose Kebab, Brit's Grill, and Fresh Shawarma each earning strong praise for food quality and service based on customer reviews.

Police released newly compiled CCTV tracing Vitoria Barreto’s movements on March 3 and early March 4 as part of an ongoing missing‑person investigation. The 31-year-old, last seen in Brightlingsea after travelling by bus from Wivenhoe, has been missing for 120 days. Detectives continue reviewing phone, financial and other records, with no significant activity detected after her disappearance. Authorities remain in contact with her family in Essex and Brazil and urge the public to submit any information that could assist enquiries.

Vickrum Digwa, sentenced to a minimum of 21 years for murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton, is seeking to appeal his conviction and sentence. The Court of Appeal has confirmed the bid, while the IOPC continues investigating officers over alleged failures to provide medical assistance to the victim and potential racial or religious bias. The Solicitor General has referred Digwa’s sentence as unduly lenient, and public scrutiny has intensified following the release of body‑worn footage and comments from the victim’s family and political figures.

The East of England Ambulance Service has moved to its highest alert level due to a sharp rise in emergency demand driven by a heatwave and hospital handover delays. REAP Level 4 activates additional measures, including deploying all available clinicians, advising some patients to self‑transport when safe and prioritising life‑threatening emergencies. The service recorded its highest weekly call volume since 2017, with significant increases across critical categories. Officials urge the public to call 999 only for life‑threatening emergencies and to use NHS 111 or pharmacies for non‑urgent needs as additional crews are deployed and the situation continues to be monitored.

A Clacton pub will stay open until 5am to show England’s World Cup round‑of‑16 match against Mexico, supported by a special licence allowing up to 100 adults to attend under strict entry and noise‑control measures. The UK Government has urged councils to permit extended pub hours for late‑night fixtures to allow fans to watch matches in full.

Around 40 Ferraris will drive through Colchester city centre on July 5 as part of a charity convoy organised by the Essex Ferrari Owners Club to raise funds for BBC Children in Need. The cars will arrive between 1.45pm and 2pm, with Pudsey riding in a yellow Ferrari 430 Spider. The convoy will continue to the Stratstone Ferrari dealership, with Colchester City Council highlighting the city’s link to Italian twin town Imola, home to a renowned Ferrari racing circuit.

A seventh man, Luke Fleming, received a suspended prison sentence for violent disorder linked to protests in Epping in summer 2025 following the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu with sexual assault. Several others have already been jailed, and four more await sentencing after being found guilty by juries or convicted earlier. Kebatu, later convicted of multiple offences and deported, was a key figure in the unrest that led to the disorder outside the Bell Hotel.

A shop worker and the retailer Yellow Xpress Store Ltd were fined after a 16-year-old volunteer was sold a Strawberry Ice Elf Bar vape during an Essex Trading Standards test purchase in Witham. Rahand Abdullah received fines and costs totalling over £4,700, while the company was also fined and ordered to pay additional charges. Essex County Council said sellers of age-restricted products must enforce ID checks. The shop was previously closed for three months following concerns over illegal tobacco and vape sales, with a closure order secured by Braintree District Council.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service responded to 570 incidents and 2,029 emergency calls during one of its busiest weeks in four years. The week included a major industrial fire at Highlands Farm near East Hanningfield, where more than 100 firefighters and 20 engines were deployed after fertiliser exploded; 20 firefighters were treated in hospital and later discharged. Chief fire officer Rick Hylton said crews had handled multiple major incidents simultaneously while maintaining coverage across Essex. The service urged residents to avoid fireworks, bonfires and barbecues near dry vegetation, dispose of cigarettes and glass safely, report deliberate fires, and follow water-safety guidance as heatwaves, drought and dry crops continued to create a high risk of rapidly spreading outdoor fires.